Epiphora, or constant tearing, is the overflow of tears from one or both eyes. Epiphora can be present all the time, or it can be present only sometimes.

Epiphora is subdivided into two categories: the overproduction of tears or insufficient drainage of tears. The part of the body that creates tears and drains them to your nose is a complex system of ducts, tubes and sacs, so it is important that all areas are examined thoroughly and your related eye history is considered, coupled with some key questions relating to tear production and drainage because this will assist staff at Australian Eye Care devise a specialised treatment plan for your Epiphora.

Symptoms and Causes

Symptoms of epiphora include:

• Eyes that feel too wet or watery.

• Tears running down your face.

• Tears building up in your eyes when you’re not crying or laughing.

How is epiphora treated?

How your watery eyes are treated depends on what’s causing them. Many people experience temporary epiphora that clears up on its own without any treatment.

Your provider will tell you which type of treatment you’ll need. The most common treatments include:

• Medications: You’ll need medication to treat your watery eyes if the epiphora is caused by allergies or an infection. If you have a condition like dry eye syndrome, your provider might prescribe artificial tears or prescription eye drops.

• Removing foreign objects: If there’s something in your eye or something hit your eye and damaged it, your provider will remove it or treat the damage. You might need surgery if a foreign object severely damaged your eye.

• Clearing blocked tear ducts: If you have blocked tear ducts, your provider will open them. They can flush them with a saline solution to rinse away the blockage. They can use a probe to open your tear ducts manually if they need to. If your tear ducts are damaged or blocked by something your provider can’t remove with either saline or a probe, you might need surgery to open them.

• Repairing your eyes or eyelids: If the physical shape of your eyes or eyelids is causing epiphora, your provider will repair the damage. You might need surgery to correct some issues.